Detective testifies at sub's sex assault pretrial hearing

Friday

Sep 27, 2013 at 2:00 AM

GOSHEN — Substitute teacher Lisa Franklin was tearful and upset as police began interviewing her about allegations that she'd molested a young boy, a detective testified Thursday at a pretrial hearing in Orange County Court.

BY HEATHER YAKIN

GOSHEN — Substitute teacher Lisa Franklin was tearful and upset as police began interviewing her about allegations that she'd molested a young boy, a detective testified Thursday at a pretrial hearing in Orange County Court.

Franklin, 45, of Newburgh, is under indictment on felony counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, rape and criminal sexual act. Prosecutors say the crimes happened over the course of a year, starting when the boy was 12.

Senior District Attorney Michael Milza called New Windsor Detective Lesley Pierri to testify Thursday about taking Franklin's videotaped statement on March 13, the day she was arrested. Pierri testified that she spoke briefly to Franklin at her home about the conflict between her and the boy's family and about the allegations made against her, and then told Franklin police needed to speak with her at that time at the New Windsor police station. Franklin drove there in her own car.

Pierri said Franklin was upset and crying at the station. Pierri said she tried to calm Franklin, and then read her Miranda warnings.

Pierri said Franklin initially denied that anything had happened between her and the boy, who she knew from substitute-teaching at Sacred Heart School. After questioning about text messages between Franklin and the boy, and being confronted with the boy's claim that Franklin had sexual intercourse with him more than 50 times, Pierri said, Franklin eventually admitted to a sexual relationship, and to having sex with the boy on more than five occasions.

"She had said that (the boy) pursued her, that he had said he wanted her from the first day he saw her," Pierri testified. "She said he looked older, more mature than he was."

Under questioning by Franklin's lawyer, Paul Trachte, Pierri testified that during the interview, Pierri acknowledged that she told Franklin things would go better for the boy and "for the whole process" if Franklin admitted to the crime.

"You never told her it would be better for her?" Trachte asked.

"I'm not saying I didn't say that, but I meant it was better overall," Pierri answered.

Judge Nicholas De Rosa will rule Oct. 29 on whether the statement was voluntary and therefore admissible.